Planning reference PL/2022/01866/PPFL relates to the ‘Demolition of existing outbuildings, erection of 9 No. detached dwelling houses, formation of pedestrian access point onto Dickens Heath Road, and associated works’ at Wharf Farm, 123 Dickens Heath Road, Dickens Heath, Solihull B90 1QG.
You can access the full range of documents on the council’s planning portal via this link:
I have though posted here the following documents to assist:
Planning Statement
Location and site plan
Proposed site layout
I would be interested in any comments. I will be liaising very closely with the parish council about this.
Ken Hawkins 
Thank you for publishing the details of the proposed development. We have all been wondering when an application would be posted ever since the oak trees on the border of the canal were chopped down.
No problem with development in the area, but it’s seems irresponsible to have an access point to 9 houses so close to the canal bridge. Traffic from Shirley will be blind to any hold up just over the bridge, whilst traffic approaching from Dickens Heath and turning into the site will be gambling on whatever traffic is coming over the bridge. It’s even more worrying when considering delivery and waste service vehicles that will be visiting the residences. Furthermore, I’m concerned about the build period itself and the construction vehicles that will need to access the site.
Thank you first of all Ken for continuing to provide such detailed reports to provide information to the community. I am in agreement with yourself and Nicholas the this development is a concern and could lead to people being in danger due to the access point of the site. With the blind spots over the bridge and a lot of young families it could lead to accidental fatalities just due to the positioning of the entry point. Whilst it’s the farmers land I do not disagree with the developments but believe there should be a safer route crafted for the safety of all. I therefore appose the developments on the grounds that the community could be injured due to the dangerous entry but I would reconsider if a new entry point was proposed.
Many thanks, Ken, for making it so easy to view the plans and make comments without having to navigate through the complexities and long reference numbers on the council’s planning website.
I must agree wholeheartedly with the comments of the previous contributors; I cycle locally and am only too aware of the approach to the canal bridge and the blind spot just over the “hump” where they intend to create access to the development. Any vehicle turning into or out of the site will be in the path of approaching vehicles, and Dickens Heath Road in the rush hour is a constant stream of moving traffic.
I would suspect the builders have planned the site for maximum number of dwellings, with no regard for the safety of road users entering or leaving the site. Would exchanging positioning of pedestrian and vehicle access points improve the situation?
I would seriously question more housing development in Dickens Heath with so little being done to improve parking, facilities and infrastructure; only recently a friend has refused to meet me in Main Street in view of the limited parking.